Ron Harper Jr., who scored 231 factors, appears to be like to shoot over Chris Vogt throughout Rutgers' 73-65 victory over No. 14 Wisconsin.
USA TODAY Sports activities
MADISON, Wis. — Rutgers understands it should show it may possibly beat high quality groups on the highway to get again into consideration for the NCAA Event.
The Scarlet Knights took a large step in that route Saturday by successful at Wisconsin for the primary time and posting their third straight victory over a ranked opponent. Ron Harper Jr. scored 21 factors and Rutgers went on a late 11-0 run in a 73-65 victory over the 14th-ranked Badgers.
“It was enormous,” Harper stated. “I informed the fellows it’s the identical 40 minutes of basketball we’re taking part in if we had been taking part in in New Jersey. The sport depends on us. It’s not depending on the gang. We love our home-court benefit, however we’re the dudes with the jerseys on. We’ve received to make performs.”
The Scarlet Knights (15-9, 9-5 Huge Ten) knocked off then-No. 13 Michigan State 84-63 per week in the past Saturday and No. 16 Ohio State 66-64 on Wednesday.
This marks the primary time in program historical past they’ve overwhelmed a Prime 25 staff in three consecutive video games. In fact, a part of that is because of a quirk within the schedule enabling Rutgers to face a ranked staff in three straight video games. The final time Rutgers gained three straight matchups with Prime 25 foes was again within the 2001-02 season.
“I believe it exhibits progress, toughness, togetherness — stuff we’ve been engaged on,” stated Paul Mulcahy, who scored 18 factors and made a 3-pointer that put Rutgers forward for good. “Guys are taking part in for one another and taking part in exhausting 40 minutes. I’m happy with all people.”
Wisconsin (19-5, 10-4) dropped a half-game behind No. 13 Illinois (17-6, 10-3) within the Huge Ten standings. Illinois hosts Northwestern on Sunday.
Rutgers has a 4-1 report in opposition to Prime 25 groups this season and owns 4 wins over ranked Huge Ten groups for the primary time ever. Rutgers additionally beat a top-ranked Purdue staff on Dec. 9.
Even so, the Scarlet Knights started the day simply 94th within the NET rankings, giving their postseason hopes little margin for error. Rutgers owns a 3-7 highway report and dug itself a deep early gap with a three-game November skid that included losses to DePaul, Lafayette and UMass.
“I inform these guys each time we exit on the court docket, we’re going to struggle for our lives,” Harper stated.
Rutgers has tried to make up for that early hunch by stepping up in Huge Ten competitors. Saturday’s sport may reply some questions on their highway points.
This marked the highest-ranked staff Rutgers has overwhelmed on the highway since successful at No. 13 Pittsburgh on Jan. 26, 2008.
In a second half that featured 10 lead adjustments, Mulcahy’s go-ahead 3-pointer began the 11-0 spurt that helped Rutgers take management. Geo Baker discovered Mulcahy for the go-ahead basket after stealing the ball from a driving Johnny Davis on the opposite finish of the ground.
“We had some expensive errors within the second half towards the top of the sport,” Davis stated. “I felt like that’s what actually misplaced us the sport.”
Davis scored 11 factors — practically 10 under his season common — whereas getting hounded by Rutgers’ Caleb McConnell, who matched a profession excessive with six steals. Tyler Wahl led Wisconsin with a career-high 23 factors and Steven Crowl added 12.
Baker scored 16 and Clifford Omoryui had 10 for Rutgers, which shot 51% from the ground and went 7 of 12 on 3-point makes an attempt. Rutgers constructed a nine-point lead within the first half earlier than Wisconsin responded.
“The beginning of the sport particularly defensively we gave them method an excessive amount of confidence,” Wisconsin coach Greg Gard stated. “Any mistake we made, they made us pay for. That’s what good groups do.”
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Rutgers: The Scarlet Knights as soon as once more confirmed they'll ship in crunch time. They beat Ohio State by scoring the ultimate 10 factors of the sport. Their 11-0 spurt proved decisive Saturday.
Wisconsin: The Badgers damage their trigger with some uncharacteristically sloppy play. Wisconsin entered the day making 74.9% of its free-throw makes an attempt however was simply 9 of 17 on Saturday. Wisconsin was committing simply 8.3 turnovers per sport – the bottom common of any Division I staff – however had eight within the second half alone Saturday. The Badgers additionally had been 4 of 19 from 3-point vary, with Brad Davison going 1 of 9. Davison, the Badgers’ second-leading scorer, is 4 of 28 on 3-point makes an attempt over his final 4 video games.
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